Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Gujarat: Breaking Rules - Part 1

It was some 13 years ago that waiting around at Bangalore airport for a
flight that was very delayed that I bought one of the most interesting books
I’ve ever read. It was just released and I bought it for 2 reasons: The authors
were Gallup researchers and I have
frequently followed the principle that the title proclaimed: “First break all the rules” (Marcus
Buckingham, Curt Coffman). The book is an outcome of research with over 80000
successful managers and what principles guided them. In all these years I have
never forgotten its main principle: “People don't
change that much. Don't waste time trying to put in what was left out. Try to
draw out what was left in. That is hard enough”. (I recommend the book
for any manager or leader, including aspiring ones).

Change matters. But real change happens only with a dramatic experience
or through a conscious new insight gained. Many mothers have lost children to
drunken driving and they usually react angrily. One woman, Candice Lightner,
who lost her 13-year old daughter to a drunk driver, even as she was deeply
upset founded MADD (Mothers
Against Drunken Driving) to combat drunken driving and help victims. That’s a dramatic event that changed a mother to
respond differently from the normal. People who have learned that the Aryan
Invasion Theory is a hoax have changed their thinking due to new insight and scientific research
into history. Change is usually not incremental.

HR specialist Susan Heathfield says about the book: “The
implications of this insight for training and performance development are
profound. This insight encourages building on what people can already do well
Instead of trying to “fix” weaker talents and abilities. The traditional
performance improvement process identifies specific, average or below
performance areas. Suggestions for improvement, either verbal or in a formal
appraisal process, focus on developing these weaknesses”. Let me explain
this. Steffi Graf, the great Tennis
player, had a powerful forehand but the worst backhand in women’s tennis.
Instead of improving her backhand, her trainer taught her to go around the ball to her left
and hit her same powerful forehand. If he had tried to greatly improve her
backhand, he would still be doing it. What great managers do is not eliminate
the weakness but manage it in a way that doesn’t affect one’s strengths. They FOCUS on strengths. They don’t try
to put in what’s not there, they draw out what’s left inside.

Godhra and post-Godhra 2002 Narendra
Modi had a dramatic experience as also gained deep insights. He was
vilified and political opponents, assorted NGOs and gangs and most of all, the
media launched the most vicious witch-hunt ever known in Indian politics or
media against him. He had the choice to fight them by reacting and fighting
like any normal politician. He did not. Instead, he chose to focus on his
strengths, the strength of people’s mandate and the strengths of Gujarat. Talent
and skills are two different things. Skills can be transferred, not talent. One can be taught to fight fire, one can’t
be taught to ‘stay calm’ under fire. The first is a skill, the latter is a
talent. When it came to fire-fighting Modi had both. He stayed calm under fire
and fought fire in his own way. On January 15, 2009, Capt. Sully Sullenberger landed a troubled aircraft with 155
on board on the Hudson river in New York. Everyone was saved. He had the talent
and skill to fight fire and stay calm under fire.

The changes in Gujarat are not of great dramatic achievements, though
many can be listed, but one of leadership. Creator of the artificial heart, Dr. Robert Jarvik says: “Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear
and no concept of the odds against them”. No matter what one chooses to
say about Modi that describes him quite well. He had no fears and didn’t bother
about the odds against him. These are signs of strong leadership.

Imagine, Gujarat is not a state gifted with many natural resources. On
that count it has a lot in common with Rajasthan. A few years ago Rajkot and
Saurashtra region were completely starved for water. Yet, instead of rioting or
agitating against the govt Gujjus pulled out their resourcefulness, their sense
of community and combatted the water issue. The Gujju refuses to beg. He or she may sit on a footpath and sell
Neem sticks as tooth-brush or anything they can sell but they do not resort to
begging; it is extremely rare. It has been many years since one has even seen a
rally protesting anything (unless you talk about Mallika Sarabhai). Many industries haven’t seen a strike in
all their existence in Gujarat. No matter how much a Gujju earns he doesn’t
spend like there’s no tomorrow. Except for a small number and a few weddings
there is nothing ostentatious about the manner in which Gujjus use their wealth
or about their lifestyle.

The only thing that had consistently angered Gujjus is the political
division of society and communal riots. These are trademark features of
Congress politics and of similar parties. KHAM theories, mindless reservations,
freebies and turning a blind eye to communal crimes of the minority and
alienating Hindus. Other than that, may be an increase in VAT or Sales Tax
could upset Gujjus. Since mid-1990s a full-strength BJP has been in power and
there has been no looking back. The last straw was when a known bootlegger and
mafia guy was propped up to rule a small kingdom in one part of Ahmedabad and
the 1985 riots. He was killed in an ‘encounter’ type strike when Shankersinh Vaghela was the CM. Vaghela
had quit BJP to join forces with Congress to realise his ambition of becoming
CM. Something the Gujjus have never forgotten and he is still paying a price
for it. So what do Gujjus really want? Nothing really! Their basic message to the govt is “you mind your business and let us
mind ours”.

Peace, safety or freedom of movement are all nothing new and have
always been around in Gujarat. Even in times of natural disasters Gujarat has a
large number of NGOs that reach the needy faster than govt agencies do. The
plague in Surat in 1994 turned the city into a model city later on instead of
destroying it. In times of disasters you won’t often hear the line “Sarkar
kuch nahin karti”. On January 26, 2001 when a deadly earthquake struck
most parts of Gujarat, power was back in Ahmedabad within 24 hours. The first
responders, as always, were volunteer NGOs. Some parts of Kutch, the epicentre
of the earthquake, are far better now than they were before the earthquake.

All the Gujjus want from a govt is to build great infrastructure,
ensure water supply, create medical facilities and curb evil social practices.
They don’t like their govt to be in their face every day. They don’t want to
see Narendra Modi give a speech every day. They don’t look for grandiose
schemes or announcements frequently. These are the rules Modi has broken and
has been breaking frequently. Corner shops, Cafes and Paan-shops in Kolkata or
Delhi are great places to discuss politics all the time; from morning till
night. These same outlets in Gujarat would hardly have any political
discussions. The best you can find is stock market discussions and during
Cricket season a little more exciting betting discussions. I don’t think even a
Central govt policy, except taxes, find much discussion among common folks. Most of all a huge majority of Gujjus don’t
watch NDTV, CNN-IBN, TimesNow, Headlines Today or read TOI. In fact, most
don’t read anything at all, unless mandatory. Believe me, till some years ago
if you spoke English in Gujarat you were God. Er… That was till this Sachin
Tendulkar came along.

So when the Social Genius from a news channel heads to Gujarat and
wants to find out the condition of Muslims alone, she is not just insulting Muslims
she is insulting all Gujjus. The Congress has built it into the psyche of
media morons that the question must always be asked what a govt is doing for
minorities (read Muslims). First and
foremost it is a great achievement of Indian society that whether you are from
majority or minority you are legally equals. The other question never
occurs to the media: “What have Muslims done for
Gujarat, what have Muslims done for India”? What have Hindus, Christians,
Parsis, Sikhs, Jains and others done for Gujarat? For India? That’s the
question that endeared JFK to the American people. Why not ask what the people
have done for their state or country?

It is in such a divisive and destructive atmosphere and a viciously
hate-filled media that Modi’s leadership was tested. And what did he offer? Let
me quote Marcus Buckingham again: “What a leader does
for followers is… turn anxiety into confidence. They’ve always done that
throughout time and in every different society and situation. When leaders lead
well, it’s because they’re able to rally people to a better future and make
people spirited when they were previously anxious”. It is undeniable
that Narendra Modi broke many rules of traditional Indian politics, especially
Nehruvian politics. No subsidies, no free power, no freebies, no mindless
reservations, no cash doles. Nothing! Have all the problems disappeared? Not at
all! There are quite a few and newer ones are sure to come up. But Modi has quite definitely changed the
political and electoral dialogue.

Modi’s development agenda is much talked about and much recognised.
Which is why enemies of a progressive society will keep reminding of old wounds
to attempt dividing societies. Our media does exactly that. Their only job is
to defend the corrupt and keep dividing society on caste and communal lines to
further their agenda of their political masters. Gujjus are far more liberal
and open as a society than the ones on TV who have a twisted idea of “liberalism”.
The development agenda is
two-dimensional; one that is very visible and one that is not so visible. In
the next part we will try and examine where the road from Gujarat leads to.

62 comments:

Brilliant! I envy Gujratis without exception - irrespective of their belief system - just for this reason. Enterprising and that single line said it “you mind your business and let us mind ours” Rather expects Government to be just a facilitator and let them do it for them (which no Government can do anyway) e.g. Air India, Hotels/Resorts etc

"“What a leader does for followers is… turn anxiety into confidence. They’ve always done that throughout time and in every different society and situation. When leaders lead well, it’s because they’re able to rally people to a better future and make people spirited when they were previously anxious”

I am constantly given the impression of Gujjus by our so called secular media, being a tribe spending time in Stock market, earning money,materials etc Being a tax consultant based at Hyderabad my Gujarathi clients bring to my notice of any recent notification on Service Tax published on front page of a local Guj Paper on the very same day, well before I stumble upon 'online portal' searching for it! Let NaMo be the beacon of light and hope for the rest of dark India!

Actually, we are a very gregarious people who like to enjoy life and experience the world without necessarily 'deracinating' ourselves. All senses are indulged, but usually within mores of society and religion - on the other hand, there is hardly any fundamentalism or rigidity in observance.

I am from Eastern U.P. but I have always remained a great fan of Modi and Gujaratis. Modi, for not being cowed down by the constant and defamatory allegations of Congis & Media goons; not even taking any note of. And Gujaratis for their miscible nature and acumen. Both are almost unbeatable in their fields. Modi has made himself clear (to the Gujaratis and to the world) by his actions. I can imagine the constant pressure he has to cope with development in one hand and law and order in the other. If any untoward incidence happens in Gujarat, not the police, not the bureaucrats, not anyone but Modi will be blamed, and that too directly. Modi aide, Modi's Govt., Modi's men, was the constant cacophony we heard all along; NOW it's MODI's GUJARAT in reality. Modi has truly found inner peace and is now turning challenges into opportunities.

Recently, while reading a Wikipedia article on Lothal for more information, having visited the place, I realised that the Indus Valley civilisation died out due to social decay and natural disasters, and the 'Aryans' or their predecessors mostly took over in their place. Anyway, there were no hordes rolling in from the mountains into India to pillage big cities during the BCE.

So mostly it seems that the Aryan Invasion Theory might be a Marxist or Christian ideology influenced tool to soften up the natives through guilt, so that they can be offered alternative dogmas as a remedy.

I am no expert in these matters by any stretch of imagination, and I have no way of knowing if such machinations lend themselves easily to grand conspiracies, but at least it gives us enough cause to pause and reconsider what we have been told in the history books.

Being from Gujarat, I will agree with all the observations made about NAMO, Gujarat and Gujjus. These observations remind us of our duties and responsibilities to stay by the leadership of NAMO and hound out all his detractors by democratic means. We Gujjus believe in 'Live and Let Live' policy. We want good governance, effective leadership and progress for one and all. A strong undercurrent is building up before the D-day to vote in progressive forces and vote out those who swear by democracy but indulge in negative tactics.

A good article, though falling in standards of sarcasm and wittiness of most posts here! A sincere feedback: please do a language check on the column again - it was very difficult to read and comprehend, unlike the clear prose that I am used to reading in all your past posts! Yeomen service by the way.. keep it up!

I think a large part of the blame lies with these online composers provided by Blogger, Wordpress, etc., which make it very difficult to write and review long tracts of text and other content.

I have been thinking of suggesting that Ravinar should first compose the post in a proper word processor, and then paste it here to be formatted with images and links. Now, thanks to you, I have acted on it.

Just BRILLIANT!! "What great managers do is not eliminate the weakness but manage it in a way that doesn’t affect one’s strengths."is so beautifully explained as you approach the central theme of your writeup.Modiji has achieved inspite of the spite in the political/media circles.Salute.

excellent, no words to describe how well it is written. the best thing was how well "first break all the rules" was correlated to the present scenario. steffi graf's example was very much in context. i've always believed, besides the numbers, the biggest achievement (which is abstract and cannot be calculated like growth figures)of Modi is the pride and the passion that he has incited in the people of gujrat and the pride of being a gujrati.

Great article. One quality I've found surely within people from Gujarati is, not only they will concentrate on their own self development but they will ensure everyone around them improves.

Coming to today's subject I would like to quote an example. I live in Hyderabad and know in and out of city. There are places pretty bad to habitat. Some area is concentrated by Hindus and some by Muslims in majority. On the other hand, there are extremely good areas, few are among the richest in country. Tomorrow I thought to go and create a documentary on these less known areas with some disturbing footage.

Well, now I have some content with me, here I am to decide what's my Intention and timing. I can use the footage to make the govt. realize that people may need help. On other hand, I can use the footage in a negative way only to show negativity in city & govt, without showing there's an improving side as well. That's Bimbolika for you.

compilation of these articles will become unfolding story of contemporary Bharat. will be recomemnded for journalistic techniques, literary style, research, presentation, humour, sarcasm and so many things.

Excellent article, Hope the so called "educated" see the bluff of the Old Hag...The doles, reservations and freebies hurt the pride of being an Indian, it is like a perennial trance which Congress engages the people of the country in and sad enough the people fall for it...

Here's is one person who evokes the pride and a sense of going out there an accomplishing, more than anything else he defines the attitude of India...you may fail but never beg... and we see spineless defining the future of India a crime far worse because that does not impact just the present but the future..

Profound article indeed. This is a lesson about, "Leadership", "Performance appraisal", "Gujju psyche", and Modi combining his fearlessness and the strengths of Gujjus, to provide "Path breaking Leadership". My admiration for Gujjus as fellow Indians, has increased many fold. My respect for Ravinar, has increased many fold too!

Modi’s development agenda is much talked about and much recognised. Which is why enemies of a progressive society will keep reminding of old wounds to attempt dividing societies. Our media does exactly that. Their only job is to defend the corrupt and keep dividing society on caste and communal lines to further their agenda of their political masters.

"All the Gujjus want from a govt is to build great infrastructure, ensure water supply, create medical facilities and curb evil social practices. They don’t like their govt to be in their face every day" ... i think not only gujjus, but every indian wants the same from the govt. fear is a good thing in a sense.if you dont have fear, you cannot strive for anything. mr modi has, had and will have fear. he feared for his reputation after 2002. he ran for development frantically reaching out to all industrialists and what not. the fear still remains... "The other question never occurs to the media: “What have Muslims done for Gujarat, what have Muslims done for India”? well they built these moques, lal quila, qutub minar, taj mahal, chaar minaar, more mosques and reproduced like rabbits. and they still are doing. barring a few( Sir APJ Abdul Kalam) i dont see any real contribution from them except controversial fatwas being issued by their madrassas every now and then. brigadier pratap had said some true things in the last scene of movie shaurya. the real truth about the majority of the muslims in india. call me a fanatic but when you see these people chearing for pakistan in a cricket match against india sitting in a barber shop in nagpada mumbai( a very trivial matter but such things tell us something about their mindset) , then you think, why are they even here?? and what is the need to worry about their well being??

True to every single word! Brilliant article. I have been there and seen everything from the plague, drought, floods, earthquake, Godhra - everything. What crossed my mind after reading this article - this is a great achievement of the state government that nothing has disrupted the peace in the region since Godhra happened, even though instigators have not stopped their job. Truly remarkable.

I have muslim friends too from gujarat. They are quite happy and are successful due to what has happened in last 10 years. they have made their fortunes 10 fold, (no not that testa setalvad way) but due to opportunities that were created during these times.

People like Keshu bhai etc branched away, because Modi didn't let anyone a free hand in corruption like congress did and does during their two terms. Every politician made a fortune, even other BJP ruled state (where ruling and opposition has nexus kind of thing), discontent was had to happen. :)

As Big B says you have to come to Gujarat just to experience it.

If Tulika and any of her masters and crony sycophant media says development is such a myth. Will pay them " Ask them to help me buy a piece of land in Sanand at govt rates" :)

As always another excellent article!!! I only karnataka BJP had thrown up a leader like that, then that party would have never looked back and would have stayed in power .... every common man's dream of a ideal government is governance!! provide for the amenities that money gets collected for... unfortunate that other than Modi... BJp in karnataka has given us so much infighting, musical chairs for power!!!

However, at times I think, are people over doing it? I mean, Is Modi a "PANACEA" to all the ills ailing Gujarat &/or Gujaratis??? or for that matter India &/or Indians, going forward??? He certainly is a far far better option compared to the CORRUPT from "HEAD to TOE" CONGRESS Governance at the helm now... Given the CORRUPT alternative of CONGRESS, he certainly deserves to retain the power...

The kind of "Image" that is being created of him in Internet and Social Media is something which is crazy to say the least... I mean, an "Image" of "Greater than LIFE" kind, an "Image" of the one who has promised a "Promised Land"...

Such an image is detrimental to MODI only... I am sure, both MODI & his Media Advisors are aware about these facts... It is only us in the SM, who should try to balance and avoid going over-board.

You might argue that, MSM is doing the exact opposite and that's the whole reason why we have so many sympathisers for Modi in SM... That's fair, but all I am telling is we need a Balanced approach and avoid going over-board...

well the MSM keeps going over board all the time blaming everything on BJP and modi..i have never seen such biased media anywhere..whatever a hindu does is always wrong..always..i am very happy these prejudiced MSMs guys are getting a fitting reply frm d SM..they are just getting the taste of their own medicine..i totally agree with ravinaar..

I agree that expectations from Modi have to be realistic. He is a good leader with many strong leadership qualities, definitely the best option at the moment...but he will need the help of a strong team to deliver nationally.

Yes... Kejriwal's timing is suspicious... I mean, what is not clear is, is he making the statement against NaMo just to answer his critics? Or does he genuinely have any proof against NaMo?? If he has indulged just to silence his critics, then I have no further doubt in announcing that Mr. Kejriwal will be sucked into the filth of Indian Politics...

Now, coming back to the timing, why is he making the statement at this time (Gujarat Elections are another fortnight away)??? What does he gain??? His crap AAP is not standing in Gujarat Elections (or does he???)... So, he has nothing to lose... Rather it only further dents (if at all, however minor it might be) NaMo (note that I am not telling BJP, cos NaMo stands out in BJP)...

So the big question is: "Is Mr. KEJRIWAL a CONGRESS AGENT??"

Why is MSM giving so much air-time for Kejriwal? Even Subramanya Swamy makes such allegations... But MSM hardly discuss that, unless SC is involved...

India has not seen a leader like NaMo since Shashtrijee. Indira was corrupt and power hungry. Did not Congis went around shouting Indira is India, India is Indira. What a f$$$ed up slogan. The nation needs people like NaMo to lead India.

Excellent analysis on what is leadership in the context of Modi&Gujarat!

I've looked at the performances of many world leaders of today but what Modiji has achieved in a climate of skepticism, lack of confidence, biased media, dynastic politics, communal and caste divide,corruption, red tape, drought by clocking up a double digit growth rate in Industry, services and agriculture for several years is almost magical!

I'm not saying that Wiki-Pedia is the most authoritative but do a search on Narendra Modi which I did a month or so ago just to know more about what Modi is doing&I can recall the following in tandem with some other positive media reports,

1. Gujarat has almost 24/7 power supply and sells power to 9 states including Tamil Naad in the South & Bengal in the East!

2.Gujarat's broadband network is the second largest in the world and the largest in Asia

4.Modi's Dholera SIR project when completed will be the world's largest urban centre with the tallest building

5.In spite of all this industrialisation Gujarat is the most green state in India where Modi is laying Solar Panels even over tracts of the Narmada Canal unheard of even in the UK where I'm now. On top of that he is planning small generators to be suspended to tap electricity from the flowing water! The tragedy of the Indian green movement is they are quiet even about these spectacular achievements of Modi as they are blinded by their leftist ideology.

6.I have read that the Muslims in Gujarat as the most prosperous in India with the rediffusion interview of the Muslim BMW dealer and has 10% of his police force comprising of Muslims which even the UK has not achieved with its 3 to 4% Muslim population! So Modi is a true secular who does not believe in tokenism.

Ravinar, as always you are brilliant. This is a lesson not just in politics but in Leadership and Management. Yesterday was discussing with a friend that NaMo is so far ahead in his thinking that Libtards can only bark like idiots. His other strength is clear communication that helps him convey his vision in clear terms to the public. It is a tribute to the Gujarati people that they are sophisticated enough to buy into his concept of Maximum Governance and Minimum Governement

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